Saudi Arabia’s Finance Minister said the war in Gaza, along with conflicts in many other parts of the world, is affecting economic activities around the world.
People receive humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. (Photo: AFP/TTXVN)
On April 28, Saudi Arabia’s Finance Minister, Mohammed al-Jadaan, called for efforts to ensure stability in the Middle East, and warned that the conflict in the Gaza Strip could have a major impact. big for the global economy.
Mr. Jadaan gave the above message at one of the first group discussion sessions within the framework of the special meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) taking place in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh.
At the discussion session, Mr. Jadaan expressed concern that the war in Gaza, along with conflicts in many other parts of the world, is affecting economic activities around the world.
According to him, all parties need to exercise restraint to avoid escalating tensions and at the same time ensure regional stability.
Speaking at the event, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said that the United States is the only country that can prevent Israel from launching a military campaign in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Mr. Abbas warned that the operation would cause “the biggest disaster ever” for the Palestinian people.
Meanwhile, the US State Department said that at the WEF meeting, Secretary of State Antony Blinken will discuss current efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and release the hostages.
Since the Hamas-Israel conflict broke out on October 7, 2203, Saudi Arabia along with other countries – including the US, Egypt and Qatar – have made efforts to prevent conflict and escalation of tensions. Saudi Arabia fears the regional crisis will upset its ambitious economic reform program, known as its “Vision 2030” strategy.
In addition to Saudi Arabia, US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators are also trying to promote negotiations to reach a new ceasefire agreement for the Gaza conflict, after the parties reached a short ceasefire. The first temporary deadline was last November. However, new rounds of negotiations, including the round of negotiations on April 7, have not achieved progress.
According to Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari, both Hamas and Israel need to show goodwill and make more commitments in ceasefire negotiations. This official said that the current negotiation process is stalled because both sides insist on maintaining their positions.
Meanwhile, a Hamas source said the movement will send a delegation to Cairo (Egypt) on April 29 to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas will also discuss a new ceasefire proposal proposed by mediators and study Israel’s official response to the proposal.
In a related statement, WEF President Borge Brende said there was “new momentum” in negotiations to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and release the hostages./.
